Notes from the Land-Use Committee Meeting of April 1st, 2009

Present:
Rockland Neighbourhood Association Land Use Committee
Guests:  Mayor Dean Fortin, Linda Johnson and Allan Campbell (Mental Health and Addiction Services).

Please understand that the following is merely a summary of what was discussed at this meeting, rather than direct quotes.  The name following the heading of each category identifies the person who presented most of the information in that section.  The comments and questions in parentheses are from the committee.

Communication  (Dean Fortin)

If the proposal for 1322 is going to be a reality, it is important to talk to the neighbourhood.   We are committed to openness and transparency.
 
(Negotiations have been going on for months but there has been no consultation with us.  Six years of misinformation and rumour regarding 1322 has sown seeds of distrust.
This could be a positive opportunity but the neighbourhood needs to be involved.)

Nothing has been signed yet.  There are lots of steps.
We need to hear from you.  We are committed to that.
I need to hear the issues so we can immediately deal with the ones that we can foresee.
It is imperative we do real consultation.  We need to set the format.
What is going to make it workable?  What is not?
The CRD Housing Action Team has a list of 40-50 potential proposals (a lot are just dreams).  Once there is a strong potential – then it’s time to talk.  
To whom do we need to talk?  I am getting a steady stream of emails.  
Do we need to do a mail drop explaining what we know so far?  
I am focusing on this development and what is good for the neighbourhood.  
If we do this right, others will say it is acceptable for their neighbourhood.

Zoning (Dean)

The zoning is in place – it is zoned “institutional” – it used to be a nursing home.

Residents (Allan Campbell and Linda Johnson)

The plan is for supportive housing: 35 total units of supportive housing proposed for people who have been stabilized elsewhere.  (12 licensed care beds and 23 supportive housing)
These people are not from directly off the street.  
They are demonstrated to be stable and able to survive.  They are at a lower level of risk.
Continuous, long-term treatment has been done but there may be remaining challenges.
This falls completely within the nursing home definition.  It is a blended use.  
It provides improvements for rehabilitation.  We see some moving on to more independent living in a few years, but a few could stay on longer.
All will be ambulatory.  
Licensed beds will be on the main floor between the house and the coach house.
The bulk of them will be from mental health.  
This proposal provides for those with stable mental illness issues (depression, schizophrenia, etc.) and stable addiction issues. Often have addictions as “coping” strategy.  
It is estimated 80% have had addiction issues in the past.
Mental health and addiction have a wide scope; the mentally ill may have had addiction issues.
These people are NOT the “hard-to-house,” those who were previously homeless and those with addiction issues who are not accepting support.
The housing is NOT for those actively using – that would be too disruptive.  
We would know right away if someone started using – it cannot be hidden.  
The staff would take it to the case manager.  
If there is a problem, the client would be removed.  
There would be extreme pressure from the clinical team because of the effect of exposure to others, and the impact on stability.  
We have quite a lineup – we can be very selective.  It is not just one individual’s home.
No pets are allowed.
Access process:  Case managers (nurses and social workers) with psychiatrists make referrals through the access team – a rigorous process with appropriate placement for likely success.  

Services (Allan and Linda)

The service provider will be Dawn Davies from Mount St. Angela – she is excellent.
This is comforting; she is tried and true.  

Credentials?  

Private operator contracts with VIHA for over 10 years.  
She is a nurse.  Operates two licensed care facilities – up to 7 in the past.  
Responsible for hiring staff.
The right staff will be there in ratio to the people there.
1322 is zoned at higher care – staff will cover both care and supportive housing groups.
The care beds require nursing staff.
There would be a nurse during the days and a health care worker 24/7.
Supportive housing for mental health (not recovery)
Amount of nursing time, trained staff – details in Community Care Assisted Living Act.

Are there any models of these blended arrangements?

No. There are 40 existing facilities in Victoria – expressed in different ways.
Group homes: licensed residential or supportive housing.
We do not have one similar to 1322, except with seniors.  
1322 would be the first combination.  
Logical – it works well for seniors. (Mount St. Angela)
There is an array of levels to allow stepping in mental illness care.  They can recover much of their functioning – daily living, coping strategies, psychiatric support, case planners.
Meals will be provided.  Two kitchens allow for residents to do some cooking.
Match individual and need to facility.  
Plan is for progress, moving toward goals.
Case managers will visit regularly.  Care plans in place.
Psychiatrist visits done at the hospitals.  Most will not be “movement challenged.”

Standards - Dean

Our goal is to make it successful, or the next one will not be.
Ideally, you will not even know it is in the neighbourhood.
It will be kept up to government standards.
Adequate support and care is what makes it work.  
There will not be too many people for the site.  
Smoking may be an issue.  
We may not lease a small portion of the property to allow residents a place to smoke.

(There has to be some understanding and commitment.   Some mechanism needs to be in place in case the situation turns into a “Harris Green 2 -  if  there are constant cars coming in and out, or if there are many visits from “acquaintances from the past.”  These are real fears.  Much depends on the operator.  If the CRD were the owner, there would be more control.)

There are possible benefits to the neighbourhood:
    This will stabilize the property.
This is an amazing heritage building which would not be knocked down.
There will be improvements to the house itself (e.g. roof).  
The property will be improved.
There will be no camping.
    There will be more security.

Funding (Dean)

VIHA/City partnership
Housing Trust Fund grant application – value for money insisted upon.
Lease being negotiated.
We will push for a 10-year lease with option for an additional 10 years and a first right to purchase.  We do not put public investment in and then pull out.  Standards must be in place before money is spent.  
My intention is to make this run the right way.  My expectations are very high.  
There is no way two levels of government are going to be taken.  
We are into quality service.

Property Management

(What will the obligations be to keep up the property?
 It has not been taken good care of for the past few years.  The residence needs to be brought up to the level of the neighbourhood, not the other way around.)

One topic of the lease is grounds maintenance. (Linda)

(Estimated renovation costs are huge.)
 
My intention is a high quality of life for the residents.  The building must be appropriate.  We shall make sure it happens.  We shall make sure you will be part of that process.
We will not pay out (the grant) until the conditions are met.  
This is going to be a well-run facility.  (Dean)

Traffic (Allan and Linda)

Deliveries would be via Royal Terrace.  Supply truck to the pantry.  
Clients do not have vehicles.  Staff and case managers only - (approx 8/9 in 24 hours)  
You will see clients walking in the neighbourhood.  
 
Security (Allan)

 (What will the security protocols be?)
 
    No illicit drug use.  No tolerance.  (no medical marijuana)
Searches only if necessary.  Residents understand the rules.  Non-compliance means they can be removed.  If they are caught, they will be relocated.  This is for the benefit of the residents as well.  If we see signs of drug use, we shall deal with the situation immediately.  There will be a level of oversight and accountability not seen elsewhere in the neighbourhood. This is not a treatment facility.  We try for a normal living situation.
 
Complaints?  

We do not get them too often.  We do not advertise the locations.  The police are rarely called.  We will have control.  Folks at this level of care will probably be indistinguishable from the general population.

Good Neighbour Policy

(Is there the possibility of a binding good neighbour policy?  If real neighourhood problems are impacting the quality of life, there needs to be a defusing mechanism - we urge consideration of this.)

A good point.
This is not something I have any concerns about.  We have a noise bylaw, a problem property bylaw.  We have legal tools in place. (Dean)

(Is there a written operational agreement between Dawn and VIHA?)

Yes.  There are in the others.

(Can we see the agreement?
)
Yes, if the owner is agreeable, but a legally binding agreement is not the way to start working with a neighbour. (Allan)

(You are not just a neighbour – you are a business – there are different concerns.)

Do you think it has the potential to be a “party central”? (Dean)

(There does need to be rezoning, a neighbourhood meeting, extensive public consultation.  This is a momentous change and it is very much an experiment for you.  There need to be very clear expectations up front.)

I would be very interested in your LUC / neighbourhood association having a list of expectations. (Dean)

We find it preferable to wait until a problem arises and then fix it.  
This is not an experiment.  We are well-versed in both populations.  
Days, evenings, nights – concerns can be called in immediately and there will be immediate results.
If it does not go as planned, we need a process in place to which we can refer – to meet, discuss, come to an agreement.  In the past we have had very few calls.  
There have been no issues in other facilities – we would respond immediately. (Linda)

(We need an agreement with safeguards.  1322 has not been amicable.  
With a process for a good, working relationship, a well-run facility might work.  It is absolutely essential for a better process than we have seen for 1729 Oak Bay Avenue.)